ULV chess club establishes itself

The battlefield of strategy, tactics and sacrifice where titans fight for victory is now going to be available to the students of the University of La Verne through a game of chess.

“Our first meeting was excellent. We had about seven people show up,” Jordan Rio, the club’s president, said. “Everyone played chess and we were able to see what level everyone was at.”

During the club fair held earlier this semester, Rio was able to collect about 40 signatures of students that were interested in joining.

“We have been keeping anyone that has been interested informed through e-mails,” Rio said.

The e-mails are sent out to let students know that the club is still progressing and what has happened with each step of its establishment process.

From the first mention of the starting of a chess club on campus, both students and faculty have been receptive to the idea.

“Chess is a very intelligent and competitive game. It fosters a healthy sense of competition, and chess also has a regal sense to it,” Jeffrey Kahan, professor of English and the chess club’s adviser, said.

The only delay that the club faced was in receiving funds in order to purchase boards and other materials to help with the beginning of its establishment.

Now that funding for activities has been received, the club has enough money to cover their basic needs and to possibly hold a small tournament later in the school year.

During the actual meetings, Rio hopes to be able to hold lessons to teach members who do not have much experience.

The interaction would give the students time to play and practice strategies on real opponents.

“Anyone is welcome from all levels,” Nawal Atoura, vice president of the chess club, said. “We are hoping to accomodate for each level of experience.”

Rio worked with Atoura to help build the club, get all the necessary information turned in to receive funding and begin building their executive board.

Atoura believes that the environment will be as comfortable as it is fun.

The meetings are open to people of all levels of experience, so that inexperienced members can further knowledge of the game from passionate players.

There has been a discussion on possibly having an open chess tournament for the entire campus to participate in, including any faculty.

Atoura says the ultimate goal of the club is to eventually establish a chess team to participate in local and regional tournaments.

This way the University could be represented at the various chess competitions.

“We want to bring people together for fun. People that love a challenge can bring recognition to ULV,” Atoura said.

Kahan has suggested organizing a competition between ULV and the Claremont colleges to help begin the brainstorming process for competitions.

Both Rio and Atoura are looking forward to the club’s future meetings and how the club will progress on campus.

For more information on the chess club, its upcoming meetings or any contributions or ideas you may have for the club, contact Rio at jordan.rio@laverne.edu.